“I want to ask everyone for their thoughts and prayers for family and for men and women out their trying to find this criminal,” said Hopkinsville police chief Clayton Summer.

The police chief said Decoursey should be considered armed and dangerous.

Officer Meacham had been with the department since May 2017. He was a sheriff’s deputy for 12-13 years before joining the Hopkinsville force.

Meacham was married and had two young children.

Decoursey has an extensive criminal history.

According to information obtained by WKDZ, court documents show that Decoursey walked away from a halfway house in Louisville on Feb 5.

He was serving a 29-year prison sentence for drug and gun charges. When he learned he was being transferred back to prison, police said he gathered his stuff and walked out of the facility.

KSP issued a warrant for his arrest, which was still active at the time of the shooting.

Decoursey was also previously indicted on drug charges in McCreary and Daviess counties. He has been indicted three times in Christian county on drug and burglary charges, with the most recent coming in 2012.